Fauzi Bowo and Mini Skirt

In the last few days, the news media have been reporting about some women who were raped while they were riding public transport in Jakarta.

In reaction to these incidents, Republika reported that last Friday the Governor of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo a.k.a Foke has asked females not to wear Mini Skirt when they ride on public transportation so as not to arouse Sexual desires of male passengers.

This controversial statement has angered female activists who asked others via Twitter to launch protest called Mini Skirt Action tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon at the Jalan Thamrin Fountain Roundabout.

VivaNews reported that the Governor finally realized that what he has said was a mistake and apologize to the public. But unfortunately, damage has been done, Jakarta females have already been hurt by his statement.

Hmmmmmm .......... CRAZY!

No Smoking In Public Buildings

Smoking cigarettes in public places is one of the worst enemy of the government of Jakarta, beside traffic jams and floods.

In 2005, they issued a regulation that forbid smoking inside certain public places like Religions places,  Schools, Hospitals, etc. Other public places like Shopping Malls are required special places for smoking. Although said regulation threatened violators with Fine, however due to weak law enforcement, we often see people smoking inside the mall.

Due to this fact, this year the government issued a tougher regulation (click) that totally forbid smoking inside public buildings, which sanctioned not only with usual form of punishment like Paying Fine, but also with public sanction i.e. announcement of their names in the mass media

Several groups of people i.e. Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association, Kretek Cigarette Community, etc. alleged that this new regulation shows that the Jakarta government have surrendered to pressures of foreign anti-tobacco activists Swiss Contact.

This allegation was denied by the Governor of Jakarta Fauzi Bowo who said that the new regulation was made to accommodate the aspirations of Jakarta residents, therefore free from foreign intervention.

Inspite of the tough regulation, Smoking Rooms still exists in Jakarta government offices a.o. Office of the Mayor of Central Jakarta (click).

I hope that this new regulation would be enforced consistently, otherwise it would be as useless just like the  previous one.

Image : Courtesy of No Tobacco.

The Controversial Phone call recording

Last November, National Police Chief Insp.Gen. Bambang H. Danuri and Attorney General Hendarman Supanji told the House of Representatives that they have a phone call recording that proved Deputy Chiefs of the Corruption Eradication Commission received bribes from businessman Anggodo Wijaya.

However, when the Corruption Court recently instructed the Police to present the said recording, they can only present a Call Data Record (CDR) which show telephone numbers but no conversation at all.

According to National Police spokesman Edward Aritonang the Police never mention that they have the recording,

While, the Attorney General Office's spokesman told reporters that such recording never exists. 

The above confusing statements have been strongly protested by members of the House, anti corruption activists, academicians and non government organizations, who alleged that the Police has been spreading a Public Lie.

In reaction to these allegation, the Police said that they never have any intention to spread a Public Lie.

Detailed media reports :
-  National Police Must Be Responsible fo False Corruption Claims, Analyst
-  Polri tidak Pernah Berniat Melakukan Kebohongan Publik